Brandon & Jazmine's Wedding

Order of Service

The Processional

Words of Welcome (once everyone is in place, the officiant will say a few words of welcome)

Opening Remarks and Introduction...

Readings...

Exchange Vows...

The Kiss...

Unity Ceremony...

Final Blessings

The Processional

Christian Minister’s Manual Formal Wedding Celebration (Tom Jones)

Who is giving this woman to be married to this man?

Bride’s father answers: “Her mother and I.”

Words of Welcome

Good afternoon Friends and Family. It is a pleasure to have you join us today for the birth of a new life. Wait a minute, you may be thinking that you came to witness a wedding, well you did. Today Brandon and Jazmine will join together and become one, completing one another, this will be the birth of a new life. Let us begin today’s ceremony with a word of prayer…Prayer for Brandon and Jazmine.

Christian Minister’s Manual Formal Wedding Celebration (Tom Jones)

Who is giving this woman to be married to this man?

Bride’s father answers: “Her mother and I.”

(Hand off flowers to Maid of Honor)

Opening Remarks & Introduction

Marriage is an amazing gift from God, it is an institution that was started at the very dawn of time. In the beginning God created. God created the heavens and the earth. God created the stars, the land, and sea. God then created animals; finally God capped off creation with the crowning jewel by creating mankind in His image.

New Living Translation Chapter 1

26 Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.”

27 So God created human beings in his own image.

In the image of God he created them;

male and female he created them.

28 Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.”

New Living Translation Chapter 2

7 Then the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.

8 Then the LORD God planted a garden in Eden in the east, and there he placed the man he had made.

Brandon and Jazmine, as we have talked together these past few months about the new journey you two are about to embark, it is always important for you to keep an understanding of who you each are. You both are created in the image of God. You were created to represent God to one another first and foremost. Then, as your family expands, you will represent God to your children. Then ultimately you will represent God to your community. As this happens, know that God will be looking down on the both of you say “What I have created is very good!” You may wonder, how can we represent God to one another? Let me show you.

Genesis 2:7–8 ESV

7 then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. 8 And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed.

When God created man,

Gen. 2:7-8

When God created Man, He realized that man needed a helper, later in verse 18.

Genesis 2:18–24 ESV

18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” 19 Now out of the ground the Lord God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. 20 The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. 21 So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22 And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” 24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

This

Brandon and Jazmine, as you wake up each morning going forward, I urge you to view one another as a personal gift to you from God. The reality is that marriage as a whole, but yours in particular today, is a visual expression of what mankind’s relationship is like with God. Marriage is a type of relationship that expresses the how intimate mankind’s relationship should be with God. Just as when the Israelites came out of Egypt, is a type or image of salvation. Just like the Tabernacle is a dual image, remembering the Garden of Eden, but also looking forward to a picture of Heaven and how we will live in the same space as God, God will be with us, always. Marriage is designed to be that type of image, the image God originally intended back in the Garden of Eden of man’s relationship with God, and of the hope we have in heaven of consistent companionship with God personally, seeing Him face to face.

Much like when someone comes into relationship with Christ, a new name is given “Christian”. Jazmine, you will now no longer be a Castillo, but a Hall. Both of you now share the same resources, whatever belongs to you Brandon, also belongs to Jazmine; even the XBox 1. Much the same way, everything that belongs to Christ, now belongs to the new believer.

I charge you both to remember, as you embrace this new life together, you are now a living example of what a relationship with God looks like here on earth. This means that you need to continually work to strengthen each other, reinforce this idea with one another as well as when you are apart. Make sure that those you come in contact with on a daily basis see and hear you encouraging one another. Find ways to secretly encourage one another. Most of all serve one another. When Jazmine wins, Brandon wins; and when Brandon wins, Jazmine wins. At the end of the day Brandon, it is a good day when you have Jesus and Jazmine; likewise Jazmine, always aim to keep Jesus and Brandon. This will allow you to have a regret-free, satisfying marriage.

While you do this, God will always be present in your marriage. says:

New Living Translation Chapter 1

Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!

Just as you, Brandon, are declaring here today that you will love, and cherish, and protect Jazmine; and you, Jazmine, are declaring to be faithful, and loving, and willing to submit to the leadership of Brandon; allowing God to bless your household. God also makes this promise to those that follow Him in :

Hosea 2:14–20 ESV

14 “Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her. 15 And there I will give her her vineyards and make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. And there she shall answer as in the days of her youth, as at the time when she came out of the land of Egypt. 16 “And in that day, declares the Lord, you will call me ‘My Husband,’ and no longer will you call me ‘My Baal.’ 17 For I will remove the names of the Baals from her mouth, and they shall be remembered by name no more. 18 And I will make for them a covenant on that day with the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the creeping things of the ground. And I will abolish the bow, the sword, and war from the land, and I will make you lie down in safety. 19 And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. 20 I will betroth you to me in faithfulness. And you shall know the Lord.

New Living Translation Chapter 2

19 I will make you my wife forever,

showing you righteousness and justice,

unfailing love and compassion.

20 I will be faithful to you and make you mine,

and you will finally know me as the LORD.

1 Corinthians 13 ESV

1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. 13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

You two now have the privilege and responsibility of showing God’s relationship with mankind, but you will also receive the blessing of God’s presence and providence forever.

Readings

Brandon’s Vows

I want to make a promise to you, a promise that as long as I’m alive you will never be alone, you will never question if you are beautiful, you will never doubt that you are worthy and you will never wonder if you are loved, you are my angel, my soulmate, my best friend. I believe you were brought in to this world and destined to be loved by me, cherished by me anxiously await to be able to love you forever as my wife.

Jazmine’s Vows

Brandon,

You are my best friend, my rock, my lover, my world, and my forever and always. I’m not sure a lifetime is long enough to return all you have given to me, but I promise the rest of my days I’ll spend by your side. To laugh with you and cry with you, to believe in you and support you, to always love you and to give you my all. In poverty I promise to do everything to make our love rich and in wealth to never let our love grow poor. Together we are better than we could ever hope to be alone, and today I give you my love, my trust, and my loyalty forever. Forever and always, I will love you Brandon Richard Hall.

5.

Exchange of Vows

Christian Minister’s Manual Formal Wedding Celebration (Tom Jones)

To Groom: , will you have this woman to be your wife, to live together in the holy covenant of marriage? Will you love her, comfort her, honor her, and keep her in sickness and in health and, forsaking all others, be faithful to her so long as you both shall live? If so, answer, “I will.”

To Bride: , will you have this man to be your husband, to live together in the holy covenant of marriage? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him in sickness and in health and, forsaking all others, be faithful to him so long as you both shall live? If so, answer, “I will.”

Brandon: will you have this woman to be your wife, to live together in the holy covenant of marriage? Will you love her, comfort her, honer her, and keep her in sickness and in health and, forsaking all others, be faithful to her so long as you both shall live? If so, answer, “I will.”

Jazmine: will you have this man to be your husband, to live together in the holy covenant of marriage? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him in sickness and in health and, forsaking all others, be faithful to him so long as you both shall live? If so, answer, “I Will.”

Scripture:

The Word of God tells us what Love is like and what love does:

New Living Translation Chapter 13

If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. 3 If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.

4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

1 Corinthians 13:1–7 ESV

1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

New Living Translation Chapter 13

Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13:13 ESV

13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

I Cor. 13:

Exchange of Rings:

Having this kind of love in your hearts, you have chosen to exchange rings as the sign and seal of the vows you are making today.

Though small in size, these rings are very large in significance. Made of precious metal, they remind us that love is not cheap nor common; indeed, love may cost us dearly.

Made in a circle, their design tells us that love must never come to an end; we must keep it continuous. as you wear these rings, whether together or apart for a moment, may they be constant reminders of these glad promises that you are making today.

Brandon: Will you take your ring and place it upon Jazmine’s left hand, and repeat after me this promise: “I give you this ring as a symbol of my vow, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you; in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Jazmine: Will you take your ring and place it upon Brandon’s left hand and repeat after me this promise: I give you this ring as a symbol of my vow, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you; in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Smooches

Unity Ceremony

Christian Minister’s Manual Formal Wedding Celebration (Tom Jones)

The two outside candles have been lighted to represent your lives to this moment. They are two distinct lights, each capable of going its separate way. To bring joy and radiance into your home, there must be the merging of these two flames into one.

From this time onward, may your thoughts be for each other rather than for your individual selves; may your plans be mutual, your joys and sorrows shared.

As this center light cannot be divided, let not your lives be divided, but instead be the united testimony of a Christian home, as Christ gives you light.

At this time, Brandon and Jazmine will assemble the Unity Cross, a beautiful sculpture they will display in their home to remind them of the covenant they are making today.

In Genesis chapter 1, we read that God created man in His own image. That means that He created man bold, strong, to be a leader, to be a protector of his wife and family.

(Holding the groom’s piece of the Unity Cross, say:)

The outer form of the Unity Cross represents the strength, leadership, and protection of the man. The book of Ephesians reminds husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church, totally and completely giving himself for her. The Base of this sculpture resembles the Cornerstone of God’s presence that will support this Covenant.

(At this time hand piece to the groom, who places his cross onto the base.)

(Holding the bride’s piece of the Cross, say:)

As well, Genesis () tells us that the woman was taken from man. The bride’s piece of the Unity Cross represents the beauty and the many capabilities of the woman, designed with intricate, beautiful detail and is placed inside the protection of the groom’s cross, completing the sculpture and representing the Two becoming One. The Rugged Cross in the center displays that Christ is at the center of their faith.

(At this time, hand the bride her piece of the cross, who places it into the center of the man’s cross.)

To complete this sculpture, representing the couple’s covenant, we are placing three pegs to hold it together. These pegs represent the Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit, showing God’s place in this covenant and the security and completeness that only our Heavenly Father can give. The pegs are carved to be to be like the spikes used at the Crucifixion as a reminder of His Love that was poured out for us and how that Love will hold the couple together through all things.

(At this time the three pegs will be placed into the Unity Cross, completing the sculpture.)

The Scriptures tell us that “...a three-stranded cord is not easily broken.” () says “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh, So, they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

Final Blessings

Christian Minister’s Manual Formal Wedding Celebration (Tom Jones)

Our Father, we come today as family, friends, those who are physically present and those whom we love who are now with you, asking your blessing upon these two lives and this home being established. You have made us so that we are incomplete without the other so that we yearn for someone whom we can love and whose love we can receive.

We are thankful for the love we see here, and even more, for the love we feel from you. May we never take your love for granted.

We pray that your love will be the shield and stay for B and G. When joy comes, may they share it together. When sorrow threatens, may they bear it together. In gladness or in tears, in sunshine or shadow, may they ever draw closer to each other and nearer to you in that eternal triangle.

Grant them patience, gentleness, forbearance, and understanding. Protect their home from those forces that would break it apart.

We ask for health, for long life, for the fulfillment of every good dream. May their love continue through life and, finally, blend into the life eternal.

We pray these things in confidence in the strong name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Let us Pray.

Father, we come today as family, friends, those who are physically present and those whom we love who are now with you, asking your blessing upon these two lives and this home being established. You have made us so that we are incomplete without the other so that we yearn for someone whom we can love and whose love we can receive.

We are thankful for the love we see here, and even more, for the love we feel from You. May we never take Your love for granted.

We pray that your love will be the shield and stay for Jazmine and Brandon. When joy comes, may they share it together. When sorrow threatens, may they bear it together. In gladness or in tears, in sunshine or shadow, may they ever draw closer to each other and nearer to You in that eternal triangle.

Grant them patience, gentleness, forbearance, and understanding. Protect their home from those forces that would break it apart.

We ask for health, for long life, for the fulfillment of every good dream. May their love continue through life and finally, blend into the life eternal. We pray these things in confidence in the strong name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

(Get flowers back from Maid of Honor)

Pronouncement of Marriage

Christian Minister’s Manual Formal Wedding Celebration (Tom Jones)

You have come before us and before God and have expressed your desire to be husband and wife. You have shown your love and affection by joining hands, have made promises of faith and devotion, each to the other, and have sealed these promises by the giving and receiving of rings.

I, therefore, pronounce that you are husband and wife. May God bless you and keep you and give you his peace. Amen.

What God has joined together, let no man separate.

Christian Minister’s Manual Formal Wedding Celebration (Tom Jones)

“Where you go, I will go, and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.”

Ladies and gentlemen, It is my privilege to present to you Mr. and Mrs. !

Final Blessing

Let me read a final blessing from the Book of Ruth.

“Where you go, I will go, and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.”

Ladies and gentlemen, It is my privilege to present to you Mr. and Mrs. Brandon Hall

(After Recessional)

At this time, please remain seated until each row is dismissed.